Pro-nuclear mayor of Saga town with two reactors wins re-election

GENKAI, SAGA PREF. – The pro-nuclear mayor of Genkai, Saga Prefecture, was re-elected Sunday for a third term.

Hideo Kishimoto, 61, defeated two anti-nuclear candidates. Both of his opponents campaigned on platforms demanding that Kyushu Electric Power Co. halt plans to restart its nuclear power plant in the town.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority has been conducting safety checks on reactors 3 and 4 at the Genkai plant, part of strict new safety standards imposed after the March 2011 Fukushima crisis.

Kishimoto’s re-election comes after two reactors at the Sendai nuclear plant in Kagoshima Prefecture became the first to meet strict new NRA safety standards last month. The watchdog’s official approval to restart those reactors is expected later this month after a period of public comment.